PRACTICE AREAS

Criminal Law is Veronica’s passion. Almost her entire practice is dedicated to advocating for people accused of crimes. Because of this, Veronica has experience in all areas of criminal law from DWI to the most complex felony litigation.

Assaults

Texas Assault charges range from Class C tickets to first degree felonies. The degree of injury, the classification of the complaining witness, and the use of any deadly weapons usually determine how the government files these charges. Sometimes, these cases involve family members or people in dating relationships. Because these relationships are often complicated, it is important for an attorney to devote serious time and attention to every fact surrounding the case to provide the best possible defense.

Drug Charges

Drug offenses are common in our criminal justice system. These can include offenses such as Possession of a Controlled Substance, Manufacturing/Delivering of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Marijuana. Because of this, the laws relating to drug crimes are dense and often complicated. Hiring an attorney who knows how to protect your Fourth Amendment rights is key. Further, for those who have a substance abuse problem, having an attorney who knows what options are available for treatment and rehabilitation programs can truly be the difference between life and death.

DWI

The government can prove someone is Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in three different ways: (1) Losing the normal use of mental faculties; (2) Losing the normal use of physical faculties; or (3) Having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more.
DWI can range from a class B misdemeanor all the way to a third degree felony. However, some intoxication related offenses carry an even higher offense range if someone in injured or killed as a result of driving while intoxicated.
A first time DWI is a Class B misdemeanor, unless the BAC level is a .15% or higher. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine up to $2,000.00, jail time from 72 hours to 180 days, and a license suspension of 90 days to 1 year. A second DWI (regardless of the BAC level), or DWI first where the BAC is above a .15% is a Class A misdemeanor and carries a range of punishment of up to a $4,000.00 fine, up to 1 year in jail, and a license suspension of 180 days to 2 years. Both Class A and Class B DWI misdemeanors may have any jail time probated for a period up to two years, however, there is no deferred adjudication for intoxicated related offenses. This means that regardless of jail time or probation, a guilty plea to the court will result in a conviction.
A third or more DWI offense is a 3rd degree felony and carries a range of punishment of a maximum $10,000.00 fine, a license suspension of 180 days to 2 years, and 2 to 10 years in prison. Any prison sentence may be probated up to 10 years. Some counties offer felony alcohol programs, which are designed to help those with substance abuse problems and rehabilitate them without sending them to prison.

Expunctions

An Order Granting Expunction is a court order that requires any record or history of a specific offense or offenses to be destroyed. This is different that an Order of Nondisclosure because an expunction prevents anyone, including law enforcement and government agencies, from seeing or having access to the specific case or cases referenced to in the Order.
In certain cases, an expunction may be automatic. But most of the time, expunctions must be petitioned to the District Court. Obtaining an Order for Expunction can be crucial when buying a house, applying for a job, or enrolling for school. Because of this, it is important to hire an attorney who routinely handles expunctions to ensure all eligible criminal history is permanently erased and no longer affecting someone’s life.

Nondisclosures

An Order of Nondisclosure is a court order that allows a particular case or cases to be sealed from the public. Governed under 411.081 of the Government Code, this is different from an expunction because a nondisclosure does not prevent law enforcement or any government agencies from seeing the offense and arrest. A nondisclosure does however prevent private background check companies or private entity from discovering a criminal history on the particular case or cases described in the order.
Getting a nondisclosure is not automatic. In fact, the offense will remain on your criminal record unless a Petition for Nondisclosure is filed and a judge signs an Order of Nondisclosure. It is imperative to hire an attorney who knows if someone is eligible for an Order of Nondisclosure. Specifically, whether the defendant was placed on and successfully completed deferred adjudication community supervision, the type of offense is one that can legally be sealed, the proper waiting period has elapsed, and there isn’t any disqualifying criminal history.

Occupational Drivers License

An Occupational Drivers License is a restricted license for those with a suspended drivers license. There are many reasons why someone’s license could be suspended such as DWI related offenses or becoming a habitual traffic offender according to DPS.
DWI license suspensions can be pre-conviction and/or post-conviction and can last up to two years after conviction. Further, DPS requires that some DWI offenses have a mandatory “hard suspension” period before someone may apply for an occupational drivers license.
There are several restriction and caveats when filing a petition to obtain an occupational drivers license, and it is important to hire an attorney who knows if and when someone is eligible for an occupational drivers license and what the court requires before ordering DPS to administer an occupational drivers license.

Probation Revocations

Probation revocations result when a defendant does not comply with some or all of the conditions of either straight probation or deferred adjudication. Though entitled to a hearing on the merits, a defendant is not entitled to a jury trial and the State’s burden of proof to the court is only a preponderance of the evidence. Further, the defendant is not allowed to contest the guilt or innocence of the underlying offense that originally put him or her on probation. If on deferred probation, the defendant faces the entire range of punishment. If on straight probation, a court may impose the maximum sentence imposed at the time of the original plea.
This is one of the many reasons why it is important to not only hire an attorney who is experienced with probation revocations, but also one who advises her clients of the collateral consequences prior to a plea for probation.

Sex Crimes

Sexual offenses are arguably the most severe types of crimes that the government can accuse someone of. These types of cases are never easy to handle, and given the stigma that our society places on convicted sex offenders, it is important to have an attorney who knows what she’s doing.
Adequate representation for someone accused of a sexual offense goes beyond knowing the law. It involves a meticulous investigation into the facts surrounding the allegation, as well as knowing how to address each witness, including the complaining witness who made the accusation. These cases often end up at trial and it is crucial to have an attorney on your side who not only knows the laws surrounding sexual offenses, but knows how to address these issues to a jury and ensure the jury hears the full story.

Theft Charges

Theft offenses range from Class C tickets all the way to first degree felonies and include crimes such as theft of services, burglary, and robbery. Defendants accused of theft face not only a wide range of punishment, but also the risk of enhancements unlike most other offenses. For instance, 31.03(e)(4)(D) of the Texas Penal Code makes it a State Jail Felony if the value of the property stolen is any amount less that $2,500.00 dollars and has previously been convicted of two or more prior thefts of any grade of theft.
This is just one of many examples that show no matter how minor an offense may appear, it is always important to have a good attorney who advises her client of the risks associated with any conviction and strives to avoid any future negative consequences associated with the offense.

ATTORNEY PROFILE

ATTORNEY PROFILE

Veronica Veyhl is a trial attorney practicing law in Fort Worth and surrounding counties. Veronica grew up in Plano, Texas and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, graduating cum laude. She then returned to Texas where she attended Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas. Veronica then became licensed to practice law in all Texas State courts as well as the Northern District of Texas Federal court.

Since becoming licensed, Veronica has dedicated her practice to courtroom litigation, focusing primarily on criminal law. Veronica has worked both sides of criminal cases, beginning with internships at the District Attorney offices in Tarrant, Dallas, and Collin counties, and subsequently managing a criminal defense practice for a boutique law firm in downtown Fort Worth.

Veronica has tried a wide variety of cases, ranging from DWI to Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child, and received numerous Not Guilty verdicts. She offers a different approach to her cases, to which she credits her extensive training at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College. Veronica is experienced before a jury and looks forward to each opportunity to advocate on her client’s behalf.

Veronica is an active member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, Tarrant County Bar Association, and Texas Bar College, and was named a Top Attorney by her peers in Fort Worth Magazine in 2016 - 2019 and has been recognized as Texas Monthly's Top Women Lawyers in 2019 and 2020. Veronica was also recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2018 - 2020, an honor only awarded to the top 2.5% of attorneys in Texas.

CASE RESULTS

Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child - NOT GUILTY ON ALL 9 COUNTS; Continuous Violence Against the Family & Assault Bodily Injury with Prior x2 - NOT GUILTY ON ALL 3 COUNTS; Sexual Assault - NOT GUILTY; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon - NOT GUILTY; Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child - HUNG JURY (same result on two separate cases); Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon - NO BILLED; Resisting Arrest - NOT GUILTY; Assault Bodily Injury Family Member - NOT GUILTY; Failure to Register Sex Offender - DISMISSED; Assault Bodily Injury Impeding Breath - DISMISSED; Theft of Services $2,500 - $30k - DISMISSED; Injury to the Elderly - REDUCED TO CLASS C TICKET; Assault Bodily Injury Family Member - HUNG JURY; Interference with a 911 Call - NOT GUILTY

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

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